31 Jul 08

Work on putting up the ceiling in Oxford University’s Sheldonian Theatre got under way today (Thursday) when the first panel was reattached.

The panels were taken down four years ago for conservation and work was completed earlier this year. A construction team and a team of the conservators are now working together to put the 32 panels back into place.

Conservator Richard Pelter said: 'The scale of the job is equal to restoring the Sistine Chapel. It’s like a big jigsaw and everything has to be in exactly the right place for it all to fit together. Having worked on this project for so long you really come to appreciate the artwork more and more and I’m really pleased it’s all going back up at along last.'

The ceiling panels, in oil on canvas, were painted by King Charles the Second’s court painter, Robert Streater (1624 to 1679). The London-born painter specialised in large-scale architectural and decorative paintings and his work was particularly noted for its illusionistic quality. The allegorical programme in the painting shows Truth descending upon the Arts and Sciences to expel ignorance from the University.

They have now been carefully conserved, including having linings replaced, holes in the canvas fixed and over-painting removed.

Oxford University’s Chairman of the Curators Jeffrey Hackney said: 'I’m a real convert to this piece. I think Richard and his team have restored it beautifully and I’m looking forward to seeing it all in place.'

The Sheldonian Theatre is a Grade 1 listed building and the principal assembly room of the University, and the regular meeting-place of Congregation – 4,000-strong ‘Parliament of Dons’, which controls the University’s affairs.